AN: Thank you so much a fangirl for reviewing this story. I would definitely give up if I didn't receive any reviews on this story. I'm a little all over the place mentally from school and writing helps me.
I always get hit with crazy ideas when I write for my Hunger Games characters, but I am always too afraid to post my new story ideas. I hope that this story will continue to improve and don't be afraid to share your opinion.
Zara POV:
I heard the sound of the door bell ringing, and I jumped out of bed immediately. I looked at the clock on my night stand. The time on the clock said three o'clock p.m.
I had slept until three o'clock in the evening and no one even bothered to wake me. Since I got around four hours asleep at night, I always found myself feeling tired in the evening time. I didn't fall asleep until three o'clock in the morning last night, and not to mention the sound of Rye's footsteps as he walked down stairs to the kitchen or the sound of his television blasting. I was amazed he was not deaf from the loud volume of his high definition television.
Mr. and Mrs. Mellark's age must have caused them not to even hear the disturbances from Rye's last night adventures.
The doorbell continued to ring, and I wondered why no one was answering the door. Normally around that time Mrs. Mellark would be doing laundry while Mr. Mellark was at the Bakery, but that only meant that Mrs. Mellark and Rye were somewhere in the house.
I assumed if neither one of them would take the initiative to wake me than they definitely wouldn't answer the door.
After I hopped out of bed, I grabbed some causal clothes and a pair of flats from my wardrobe and walked to the bathroom. Since I didn't stay in Willow's bed room, which was much larger than mine I had to go to the bathroom across the hall. I didn't chose to stay in Willow's room because I felt like it would not be appropriate. I was not trying to take her place, so just chose to stay in one of the smaller bedrooms.
The bathroom down the hall was right across from Rye's bedroom while his parent's room was all the way at the end of the hall. Rye claimed that he still slept in his parent's bed whenever he had a nightmare, and I was so glad I am not the worrying kind because if I was I would be worried about him. I thought it was unheard of for an eighteen year old to sleep in the bed with his parents occasionally.
I thought that the random females that Rye slept with would have brought him enough comfort.
The sound of the doorbell still rang, and I shut the bathroom door immediately and threw on my clothing. I didn't even bother to brush my teeth. I dressed in a pair of tight long black cotton pants, a white t-shirt with a ruffled collar, and the pair of flats. I grabbed a hair pin from the glass cabinet next to the bathroom door.
I brushed my wild long and tangled hair together, then I pinned it up into a semi neat bun.
I rushed out of the bathroom, and I was certain that whoever the idiot was that was still ringing the doorbell had been standing outside for ten minutes. I guess it didn't matter during the fall season in District 12, but in District 11 they would have been slowly burning.
I figured either this must have been a dire situation or this particular person was just stupid. Obviously, no one in the house wanted to be bothered.
I walked down the long hallway and onto the stairs. The ringing of the doorbell ceased, and it was replaced with a low knock.
"I'm coming. Just hold on." I said feeling my patience thinning.
When I finally made it down the stairs, the knocking stopped and I assumed the person heard me.
I opened the door without any hesitation not caring whether or not a mass murder was behind it. I had become accustomed to death and pain. I had the Games and Chronis to blame for that. For the rest of my life nothing could really alarm me or make me fearful. I had tasted death and murder too much, if anything the murderer should have been afraid of me.
I gazed at the person standing outside of the doorway. They had pale skin, black layered hair that fell to their chin, and a petite frame. The person appeared to be around five feet in height. It was Rye's favorite person, Luna Cabot. She wore a baby doll designed, pearl colored dress that fell to her knees with a pair of beige ankle boots. Then she had on a pair of black shades that covered her gray cat eyes.
"Oh, Zara it's you." Luna croaked sounding like she was in distress.
She touched the side of her face, and I could tell her nerves were shot.
"Can I come in?" Luna asked and I stood out of the doorway.
"Of course Luna, you didn't think I would just leave you out in the cold now did you?"
"I don't know what I think anymore or how I feel." Luna said stepping into the Mellark's home. I shut the door quietly.
"I have been an emotional wreck ever since Rye and I broke up two weeks ago. I can't remember the last time I ate, slept, and did anything for myself. I have just been lying in bed all day crying for two weeks, and I'm exhausted." Luna relied sounding like she was on the verge of tears.
I couldn't see anything behind those enormous shades.
"I know how you feel. I have stayed up all night countless times crying, but never over Rye of course. All I know is I would be exhausted too if I were you." I said and Luna sniffled.
"Do you think this is funny?" Luna asked clearly broken and beaten down.
"No Luna, of course not. I'm just as depressed as you are, just for two totally different reasons." I responded and Luna just shook her head.
"Alright, because you just don't know what I've been going through. These have been the worst two weeks of my life. Then to top it all off I still have to take care of Gunnar. It's not fair. I miss Rye so much it hurts." Luna cried, and I just wanted to go back up to my room and lock the door.
"Hey Luna listen you are my friend, and I completely understand. Well, not really but I'm trying. I know it must be difficult considering you and Rye have never been broken up this long despite breaking up over one hundred times. You two will work it out, I'm sure of it." I reassured and Luna folded her arms across her waist. I would not have been surprised if she fainted.
I was about to hug her when I heard the sound of footsteps in the room.
"Who is it?" I turned around to see Rye dressed in a pair of denim pants and a short sleeved olive colored t-shirt. He was holding a pair of voice automated headphones in his hand.
"Speaking of the Devil, Rye someone is here to see you." I said standing out of the way so he could get a full view of Luna. Luna wiped away her tears with a handkerchief from her dress pocket.
"Rye?" Luna replied appearing to be in awe.
Rye didn't say anything he just stood there with his mouth open. Then suddenly the phone rang.
"I got it." Rye replied about to rush out of the corridor.
I sprinted towards Rye, and I stood in front of him stopping him in his tracks.
"Not so fast. I'll answer it, just like I answered the door. You should stay here with Luna, I believe you two need to catch up on some things. Also don't forget to invite her to that little Halloween party you're going to." I stated, and I looked past Rye to see Luna growing restless in the back ground.
"Yeah right," Rye said boldly.
"What party?" Luna asked overhearing our conversation.
"I should go answer the phone now." I said and Rye narrowed his eyes at me.
"Good luck." I replied.
"You'll pay for this." Rye warned.
"I am practically shaking." I responded.
I turned around and walked towards the dining room to answer the phone.
"Hello." I answered, and there was a long pause.
"Have you forgotten my name?"
"Zander?" I replied recognizing the sound of his voice.
"And here I was thinking you forgot about me." Zander said.
"How can I forget you? You called me five times last week." I said.
"Because you ignored my previous calls." Zander fired back.
"Yeah with a good reason. When will you catch a clue?" I questioned.
"The same time when you face the truth." Zander replied.
"What truth?" I asked.
"Hey, Fitin how have you been?"
"I think you asked me a little late, so you must not care about my well-being." I argued.
"That's impossible since we both know you're the only person I care about." Zander admitted.
"Liar, Snow's your great grandfather and Chronis is your older brother which means that you are incapable of feeling real emotion for anyone besides yourself."
"I think you've got me mixed up with you." Zander replied and I was struck by his attitude.
"Excuse me, I'm not related to Chronis or Snow." I said still stunned.
"You know what I mean, Zara." Zander replied with a drier tone.
"I'm not sure I do, Zander. I'll call you Zander since you called me by my first name."
"That's fine. Just know that their so many other things I wish I could call you in private." Zander boldly stated.
"I bet. Too bad you'll never get the chance." I responded.
"Never say never. I hear you are going to Cain's Halloween party." Zander stated with his soothing and suave voice.
"No… who told you that?" I questioned wondering who's been talking about me.
"Rye. He called me in the middle of the night last night. I would have hung up, but he mentioned you, and I really wanted to hear what he had to say. You know you're my weakness Zara." Zander admitted.
"I have been wanting to travel to District 12 and see you, but things in the Capitol are so chaotic right now, I think it's a bad time for me to leave." Zander confessed.
"But you are willing to go to the Halloween party?" I said feeling dazed and confused.
"Yeah just to see you. If you're going. I mean if you don't go, I won't." Zander said and I rolled my eyes.
"Partying is not really my scene Zander."
"I'll make it worth it, if you'll be my date." Zander said and I could smell the thirst.
"Fine, whatever I'll go to the party with you." I gave in.
"Great, I'll see you there."
"I suppose so." I spat.
"Goodbye, Zara." Zander spoke in a content way.
"Bye Zander." I said ready to get off the phone.
I turned off the phone, and placed it back in its rightful place.
Then I walked towards the den instead of upstairs to my room. I wanted to be alone, so I could think about my awful decision.
When I made it to the den I saw Rye sitting down on the coach eating a big bowl of peanut butter popcorn. I sat beside him.
"I can't believe you lied to Zander and said I was going to the party." I said feeling agitated.
"I can't believe you got Luna and I back together." Rye responded before stuffing his face with popcorn.
"Looks like we are both screwed. I hate parties." I said, and then I heard quiet footsteps enter the den.
"What party?"
I heard the sound of Mrs. Mellark's voice coming from behind the coach.
Rye and I both exchanged shocked glances.
AN: Ahh! I don't know a good song for this chapter.
I'll just say the song for this chapter is: You Don't Own Me by Lesley Gore. Please listen to it.
Also, looks like Zara and Rye both crossed each other in their own way.
I was listening to this One Direction song called Perfect and somehow it reminded me of Rye and Luna's relationship. Not in this chapter though. Anyway, I'll try to add another probably next weekend because I have like three test and a PowerPoint presentation to do this week.
Check out my other Hunger Games story: 112th Hunger Games: Reflections and Innocence Lost Mafia AU. Let me know what you think of those as well.
111th Hunger Games: Shadow is under construction.